Degrees and Programs

Professional Communication

The M.A. in professional communication provides advanced education for individuals in or pursuing communication related careers in public/nonprofit organizations, media organizations, health care organizations or in higher education. Students take courses that focus on written and oral communication theory and practices.

The degree has two concentrations: The journalism concentration offers specialized journalism and mass communication courses that emphasize building or enhancing professional skills within the context of mass media and communications theory. The communication concentration is both theoretically and pragmatically oriented to prepare students for the professional workplace or for doctoral study.

d. Minimum credits required (30-34 credits)* Students in the journalism concentration who elect to complete a non-thesis project should take 6 credits of JRN 698 rather than COMM/JRN 699.

** Students may take 300-, 400-, and 600-level courses in art, education, English, journalism, communication, marketing, business administration, and northern studies as well as graduate level independent studies to fulfill 6-credits of the elective requirement, if approved by the student's committee. Students will also be able to apply up to 6 credits of appropriate graduate level coursework from other universities in the elective area if approved by the student's committee.

*** Students with upper division, undergraduate coursework in mass media law may substitute a JRN elective for JRN 613.

**** This 1 credit course may be taken up to four times.

Note: A maximum of 6 credits of approved 300- 400-level courses may be included in the 30-34 credit requirement.

Note: The comprehensive examination is to be taken no later than the student's fourth semester of work.